Process to stimulate the peristaltic movements and device therefor



Aug. 13, 1968 s. A. MENcAccl PROCESS TO STIMULATE THE PERISTALTIC MOVEMENTS AND DEVICE THEREFOR A2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.

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S. A. MENCACCI PROCESS To sTIMULA-TE THE PERISTALTIC MOVEMENTS AND DEVICE THEREFOR Aug. 13, 1968 Filed Feb. 19. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVHVTOR S.' A. NQHCCLCC ATTQmNea-)s United States Patent O I 3,396,721 PROCESS T STIMULATE THE PERISTALTIC MOVEMENTS ANDl DEVICE THEREFOR Samuel A. Mencacci, 30 Aharnenlaau, Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium Filed Feb. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 433,996 Claims priority, applicatiou Belgium, Mar 4, 1964,

44,660 4 Claims. (Cl. 12S-41) ABSTRACT,y 0F THE DISCLOSURE It is Well known that the abdominal Viscera are controlled by the superior and inferior mesenteric plexus, connected to the spinal nerves in the region of the ninth to eleventh dorsal vertebrae and to the first to fourth lumbar vertebrae. It is also known to treat the abdominal lorgans by means of vibration, res-pectively massage, either by Iperipheral vibration or by central vibration.

The greatest therapeutic benefits are derived from vibratory stimulation of the spinal nerve centres whereby peripheral effects are produced in the regions controlled by the vibrated centres. Numerous devices have been already proposed to mechanically effect such a central or peripheral vibration, either in the shape of portable vibrators or in the form of more elaborate therapeutic chairs or tables.

This stimulation, and more particularly, of the peristaltic movements of the intestines has already been dealt with, for instance by chiropractors, who quite frequently adjust the second lumbar vertebra so as to artificially stimulate the peristaxltic wave action.

One drawback of the known methods and/ or devices is that they need skilled hands to be applied and cannot be utilised :by the patients in regular everyday use.

The present invention discloses a new process to stimulate the peristaltic movements of the intestines, i.e. of the descending colon, which substantially consist in exciting some of the nerves of the lumbar plexus by series of blows applied to the lumbar vertebrae, particularly to the 1-5 lumbars, the frequency of said blows being substantially equal to the normal frequency of contraction, i.e. of the descending colon, for a given person, said frequency being generally comprised between to 15 blows a minute, said impacts being delivered until elimination.

The invention also discloses a synchro-stimulator to put the above mentioned process into practice. Such a synchro-stimulator is substantially constituted by an impact head driven either by the armature of a solenoid or by the displacement of `a gaseous or liquid medium, the drive of said impact head being regulated by an impact timer.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the synchro-stimulator may be provided lwith a belt so it can be positioned, when in use, in the lumbar region of the patient.

According to another embodiment, the synchro-stimulator is built into the seat cover of a toilet bowl in such a way that it contacts the lumbar vertebrae when a patient leans against said seat cover.

To more clearly show the advant-ages and characterisice 2 tics of the invention,'embodiments of the latter are described hereafter, without any limitation, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l schematically shows the spinal column and the descending colon of a person, a synchro-stimulator according to the linvention-being applied thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a belt equipped !with a synchro-stimulator according to FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3Y is `a schematic cross section of an alternative embodiment according to the invention; y

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a toilet bowl, the cover of which being equipped with a synchro-stimulator according to the invention.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the 1-5 lumbar vertebrae and, more precisely, the spinal nerves running therein are connected to the descending colon 1. The process revealed by the present invention substantially consists in delivering blows to the region of the back comprised between the said 1-5 lumbars with asfreqruency substantially equal to that of the peristaltic wave motion of the considered person in such a way that a nerve response is locally prolvoked lor stimulated. This frequency may either bedetermined by clinical tests or through experimentation.

A synchro-stimulator according to the invention is constituted .by an impact head 2 mounted on the armature 3 of a solenoid 4. Said armature is drawn upwards through the action of a spring 5 mounted around said armature and retained by a washer 6 and nut 7. Preferably, the windings of the solenoid 4 are controlled by a timer 8 so that the frequency of excitation of -said solenoid may be chosen within a range extending from 5 to 15 impulses a minute. v As shown in FIGURE 2 a synchro-stimulator may conveniently be built into a lbelt 9, the internal face of which being provided with a padding, respectively 10-11, so arranged that the frontal face of the impact head 2 stays at a certain distance of the wearers back when the solenoid 4 is not excited. The electric feedline 12 of said stimulator may conveniently be fixed to the belt up to the `front part thereof and timer 8 may be inserted into said line 12 near this part so that the wearer easily can see and handle said timer 8.

In another embodiment of the synchro-stimulator according to the invention, the impact head is constituted by a bladder-like elastic body 13 connected by a conduit 14 to a second bladder-like body 15. Bladder 13 is surrounded alongst tive faces by a casing 16 so that any expansion of said bladder 13 can only be directed towards the open face of said casing 16. Bladder 13, conduit 14 and bladder 15 are filled either by a liquid or by a gaseous medium, the volume of which is equal to the volume represented in the cross section of FIGURE 3. Bladder 15 is submitted to the action of a pressure head 17 actuated by a solenoid 18, the frequency of excitation of which may be regulated by a timer, as hereinabove described.

When said solenoid 18 is excited, the pressure head 17 delivers a blow to bladder 15 with the result that the liquid or gaseous medium therein contained is forced through conduit 14 into bladder 13, the latter violently expanding through the open face of said casing 16. This bladder 13 corresponds to the above described impact head 12 and is intended to be applied against the 1-5 lumbar vertebrae. With this embodiment only casing 16 and the therein contained bladder 13 have to be applied against the wearers back, the driving elements 15, 17 and 18 being placed where convenient.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the synchro-stimulator can be built into the seat cover 19 of a bowl 20 so that said impact head 12 or 13 protrudes from the inside of said cover 19 at such a height that, when a patient leans against said cover 19, said impact head 2 contacts the 1-5 lumbar vertebrae. When the process and the synchro-stimulator according to the invention are used, it would be better for the patient to experimentally find his own frequency of peristaltic wave action by trying various settings of said timerS. It has been found that this is very easily and quickly done.

It is evident that a process and device according to the invention present numerous advantages over known practice and apparatuses. For instance, it can be used whenever necessary and without the need to call for skilled hands. It has solely a mechanical effect of such nature that no counter-indication has yet been found to its use.

Further, considering that progression through the intenstines is slow, up to 24 hours, the daily use of the device according to the invention tends to regulate the peristaltic movement generally, from stomach to rectum.

Another advantage of the device according to the present invention resides in that it is relatively inexpensive, easily produced and certainly lls a great need, considering the amount of drugs actually sold to achieve the same results.

Of course, modifications can be brought to the apparatus described without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. Process to stimulate the peristaltic movements, particularly the wave like motion of the descending colon, characterized in that it substantially consists in exciting some of the nerves of the lumbar plexus by series of blows applied to the lumbar vertebrae, particularly to the 1-5 lumbars, the frequency of said blows being substantially equal'to the normal frequency of contraction of the descending colon for a given person, said frequency being generally comprised between 5 to 15 blows a minute, said impacts being delivered until elimination.

2. A device for stimulating the peristaltic movements of its user, comprising an impact head, means actuating said impact head, a support carrying said impact head and said actuating means and adapted to locate said impact head in front of the 1 5 lumbars of the user, and timing means controlling said actuating means to move said impact head ata frequency ranging between 5v to415 impulses per minute, said actuating means comprising a solenoid having an armature carrying said head, said solenoid being excited by said timing means at said frequency.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said support comprises a belt and two pads upon the inner surface of said belt, said pads and said belt defining a recess for said impact head in the retracted position thereof.

4. A synchro-stimulator comprising an impact head, a solenoid driving said impact head, said impactihead being held at a distance from the lumbar vertebrae of a patient before said solenoid is excited to enable said impact head to deliver a blow, and a timer device located in the circuit of said solenoid for regulating the frequency of said blows, said synchro-stimulator being built into the seat cover of a toilet bowl so that said impact head protrudes from the inside of said cover at such a height that when the patient leans against said cover said impact head contacts the 1-5 lumbar vertebrae.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 587,891 8/1897 Walker 12S-28 1,455,320 5/1923 Ashlock 128-69 2,484,306 10/1949 McClain et al 128-28 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,586 1/1957 Finland. 788,366 7/1935 France.

L. W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner. 

